The purpose of this essay is to address a problem in your community, at your place of employment. The end goal of the essay is to create an opportunity for improvement.
Instructions
1.Select a problem to examine and solve
2.Engage in Primary Research
3.Engage in Secondary Research
4.Decide your audience for the essay
5.Draft the essay
6.Revise the essay
7.Submit the essay
Organization
1.Introduction with thesis
2.In-depth background of the problem
3.Outline steps to address the problem
4.Conclusion
5.Works Cited
6.Appendices
PRIMARY RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
What is primary research? To put it in perspective, consider the I in prImary research. You are the person creating the research. Say to yourself, I am creating this research.
In comparison, secondary research is when you go to other sources for information: databases, websites, magazines, newspapers, and other like sources. You use these sources to support your argument.
Primary research is when YOU create the information based on specific types of research: inspections, field research, interviews, email inquiries, and questionnaires. Others can use your research to support their arguments.
Lets review the various types of primary research you can use for Essay 3. You are required to use at least two of these types of primary research.
INSPECTIONS
An inspection is when you go to a site and take notes on your findings. During an inspection, you ask yourself journalistic questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how.
While performing the inspection, you can take photographs or create sketches and incorporate these images in your essay.
Example of an inspection
Roberta wants to rebuild a community playground at her housing complex that was damaged in a hurricane. Roberta visits the community playground and inspects the damage. She asks herself, What has been damaged? Where is the most need for repair? How can this park be improved? Roberta will take photos of the park and use the best of these in her essay to show the reader the extent of the damage.
Roberta can also go to a playground that meets her vision. She asks himself, Who created this playground? What equipment did they implement? Why is this playground successful? Roberta will take photos of the park and use the best of these in her essay to show the reader what comprises a successful playground.
FIELD RESEARCH
Field research requires that you observe an activity, oftentimes minimizing the effects of your presence.
Example of field research
Dante finds that every day when he picks up his son, Oscar, from daycare, Oscar is super hyperactive. Dante thinks the use of violent cartoonsTom & Jerry, Bugs Bunnyis having a negative effect on Oscars behavior. Dante decides to secretly observe his son and the other children while they watch the late afternoon cartoons. Dante makes sure the children do not see him because he knows this will alter their behaviors. Dante takes notes on his observations; he will use these notes in his essay to explain to the reader how violent cartoons affect behavior in daycare centers.
(Note: For those of you going into the medical field, you can look up double-blinding research bias. Really interesting.)
INTERVIEWS
An interview is when you communicate with someone, either over the phone or in person. To conduct a successful interview, you will want to plan ahead. Some of the ways you can plan ahead include:
Do research ahead of time to ensure you ask pertinent questions
Prepare good questions
Avoid too many yes & no questions
Be prepared to ask follow-up questions
Make an appointment for the interview and show up on time
Make sure the person understands the purpose of your interview
Ask permission to quote the person
Thank the person for their time
Example of an Interview
Tamera works as a manager of a large corporation. Lately, she has noticed that employee morale is down, so she wants to organize a family event for employees. Through some preliminary research, Tamera learns that there are event funds available through Human Resources. Tamera makes an appointment to speak with the Human Resources (HR) Officer to discuss her idea. Tamera prepares questions such as: can the event happen in their main facility; are there funds for a professional deejay; can the event be sponsored and/or catered by a local restaurant? Tamara shows up to the meeting on time, and asks if the HR Officer minds if Tamara takes notes. Throughout the interview, Tamara asks follow-up questions; for instance, when the HR Officer says that the company held a similar event many years ago, Tamara asks how that event went and what improvements the HR Officer would recommend. At the end of the interview, Tamara asks for permission to quote the HR Officer and then thanks the HR Officer for her time. Tamara uses parts of what she learns in the interview to write her essay. Tamara uses direct quotes with intext citations to designate information she learned directly from the HR Officer.
EMAIL INQUIRY
An email inquiry works when you need information such as access to documents. A good email inquiry will begin with the purpose of the email and will follow with some direct questions that the recipient can quickly answer. The email should be concise.
Example of an Email Inquiry
Ana wants to start a fashion club at Broward College. She hopes to create a club where students who love fashion can spend their time planning a fashion gala at the end of every spring semester. She does some preliminary research and decides the best person to contact is the head of Student Life. Her email might read something like this:
Dear Student Life:
The purpose of this email is to get information on how to start a club at Broward College. I have a vision for a Fashion Club that will provide space for students to share their creative fashion ideas. Can you please provide me with information on how to start a club at the college?
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Ana Martinez
In her essay, Ana can incorporate what she learns about starting a club.
QUESTIONNAIRES
Questionnaires are a great way to get a lot of information from your target audience. You can distribute to a wider audience and then use the feedback to inform your project. Questionnaires can be administered in person or through email. There are online resources that will manage your questionnaires, if you choose. My favorite is Survey Monkey.
A successful questionnaire will
Include introductory information that informs the participant of the purpose of the questionnaire
Ask specific questions
Include answers to the questions that participants can easily select
Give participants a timeframe for responding
Be free of errors in grammar, mechanics, and CONTENT
ESSAY RUBRIC
CONTENT (0 TO 5 POINTS)
Essay includes an engaging introduction
Essay has a clear and concise thesis
Essay includes at least 3 supporting paragraphs
Essay includes a refutation
Essay includes a unique conclusion
ORGANIZATION AND FORMATTING (0 to 4 POINTS)
Paragraphs begin with clear topic sentences
Topic sentences are supported with relevant information
Paragraphs follow a logical sequence of time and order
Essay is double-spaced and in a Times size 12 font
DIRECT QUOTES AND WORKS CITED PAGE (0 to 4 POINTS)
Essay includes three (3) direct quotes with in-text citations
Direct quotes add to the argument and are not haphazardly inserted
Direct quotes link to sources on Works Cited page
Sources in Works Cited are in alphabetical order
SENTENCE STRUCTURE, GRAMMAR, MECHANICS (0 to 5 points)
Essay employs simple, compound, and complex sentence structures
Sentences are composed of concise and engaging vocabulary
Essay is mostly free of errors in mechanics
Essay is mostly free of errors in grammar
Essay shows evidence of proofreading and revision
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